Summary

Portrait of Tertullian Tertullian Ante-Nicene Fathers Vol. III, Anti-Marcion… (1885)

For he introduces the Pleroma and the thirty Æons. These Æons, moreover, he explains in the way of syzygies, that is, conjugal unions [1] of some kind. For among the first, [2] he says, were Depth [3] and Silence; of these proceeded Mind and Truth; out of whom burst the Word and Life; from whom, again, were created Man [4] and the Church. But (these are not all) ; for of these last also proceeded twelve Æons; from Speech, [5] moreover, and Life proceeded other ten Æons: such is the Triacontad of Æons, which is made up in the Pleroma of an ogdoad, a decad, and a duodecad.
Source: Wikisource

Portrait of Tertullian Tertullian Ante-Nicene Fathers Vol. III, Anti-Marcion… (1885)

After him arose the heretics Ptolemy and Secundus, who agree throughout with Valentinus, differing only in the following point: viz., whereas Valentinus had feigned but thirty Æons, they have added several more; for they first added four, and subsequently four more. And Valentine’s assertion, that it was the thirtieth Æon which strayed out from the Pleroma, (as falling into despondency,) they deny
Source: Wikisource

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